Lukashenka (right) and Putin in an undated file photo (epa)
28 January 2006 -- Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has said that a proposed union with Russia would be built on the principles of equality.
Speaking in an interview on Belarusian state television on 27 January, Lukashenka said the creation of a unified state would be "time- and effort-consuming."
The Belarusian president said that there are also unresolved issues to be considered, for example the approval of a single constitution and a shared currency.
Belarus and Russia have been speaking about a union since the mid-1990s, but integration efforts have often stagnated.
(ITAR-TASS)
Video Roundtable On Belarus/Ukraine
Video Roundtable On Belarus/Ukraine
On December 8, 2005, RFE/RL and the Policy Association for an Open Society (PASOS) jointly conducted a roundtable discussion on issues relating to Belarus's post-Soviet transition. To view video of the roundtable, click here.
See also:
Belarus: Authorities 'Cleanse' Media Ahead Of 2006 Vote